FRANKLIN, W.Va. — Petersburg scored early and never trailed to defeat top-seeded Pendleton County, 6-2, Thursday to advance to the Class A, Region II, Section 1 championship game.
Petersburg took an early lead before ace Sammy Colaw could even take the circle.
Miley Tingler applied the pressure by hitting an infield single and advancing to second on a throwing error by the first baseman. Colaw walked and Addison Kitzmiller was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs for the Vikings.
A wild pitch allowed Tingler to dive in headfirst safely to give Petersburg a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, Pendleton threatened after two walks put Wildcats at first and second with one out. Jessica Parker hit a line drive that was caught by Shyane Tawney, and she flipped the ball to Tingler to double off Avery Townsend to end the threat.
The score remained 1-0 entering the fourth, an inning in which the Vikings sent seven batters to the plate with three of them scoring.
Tawney got things going with a one-out single. Tingler got on base on a sharp ground ball that was dropped by the shortstop. With runners at first and second, Colaw gave herself a couple insurance runs with a single through the middle.
Tawney scored on the hit and Tingler crossed the plate after the ball got through the center fielder’s legs allowing Colaw to advance to second.
Two batters later, Kitzmiller drove in Colaw on a line drive through the right side of the infield for a 4-0 lead.
Pendleton got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Colaw retired the first two batters of the inning, and then a walk, hit by pitch and another walk loaded the bases for the Wildcats.
Baylee Beachler hit a ground ball that found the gap in left center scoring the Wildcats’ two runs.
Petersburg got those two runs right back in the next half inning.
Tingler worked a one-out walk and Colaw followed behind with a single through the middle.
Townsend attempted to throw behind Colaw after a big turn rounding first, but the throw skipped in front of the first baseman allowing Tingler to score. Kitzmiller drove in the final run of the game with her second single of the night scoring Ella Chew from second base.
“I was able to talk to coach (Doug Swick) “Swicky” before each at bat and he told me to relax and stay confident in the box,” Kitzmiller said. “I wanted to give our team a boost and fortunately I was able to execute.”
Colaw picked up the win tossing a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven.
The All-Area right-hander improves to 14-4 on the season and allows the Vikings an opportunity to play for the sectional championship set for Monday night in Petersburg.
“What an effort,” Petersburg head coach Bubba Hedrick said. “First with Sam, she pitched well. We put enough runs on the board and did enough at the plate to make Beachler work. We had a lot of hustle on the bases tonight. It’s far from over, but this was a big victory for us tonight. I’m very proud of our girls.”
Beachler took the loss for the Wildcats allowing six runs (three earned) in six innings. She gave up seven hits and walked six. She had five punch outs. Beachler falls to 10-3 on the season. Susan Vincell pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Petersburg will host the sectional championship game Monday needing just one victory to advance to the Regional finals.
Pendleton will host the winner of Tucker and Moorefield in an elimination game on Saturday.